Welcome! My name is Kristie. To some of you, I may be a friend or family member; some of you may be current or past clients of mine. There may even be strangers among us, who find themselves aligning with my journey. Thank you for taking the time to engage with my story.
A little about me, I am a dedicated massage therapist and an Ayurveda health coach based in the small town of Idaho Springs, Colorado. My passion resides in helping individuals alleviate and reduce pain, improve quality of life and be inspired to take small daily action steps towards their self-care and self-awareness. After all, health truly is wealth and QUALITY of life is a key to happiness. And, as you can see from my story, this preparation of body, mind and life force is key to taking a big hit like this. With 20 years of experience in bodywork, storytelling, and a commitment to continuous learning, I strive to always be improving myself alongside my clients. People that know me, know I love to learn and help others. They understand that what makes me happy when I am not helping others is being outdoors. l enjoy alpine skiing, hiking, biking and climbing. I hope to get back to these things in due time.
The first week of January marked my fiftieth birthday. I felt fit and healthy, overflowing with gratitude for life’s many blessings. To celebrate, my husband, and I took a day trip skiing nearby together. During one of my final runs of the day, I took a tumble and sprained my knee—an accident that seemed minor at the time. However, just two days later, I collapsed in my home, struck by bilateral massive pulmonary embolisms that put me into cardiac arrest. In a shocking turn of events, both my heart and lungs ceased to function, seemingly out of nowhere.
Fortunately, David was at home when I needed him the most, becoming my first responder. Without hesitation, he dialed 911, administered CPR, and set into motion a miraculous sequence of events that ultimately granted me a second chance at life!
A heartfelt thanks goes to the dedicated team of Clear Creek EMS, who arrived swiftly and performed four rounds of CPR en route to St. Anthony's ICU in Denver. I am incredibly grateful to all the physicians who deliberated on my case and courageously decided to place me on VA ECMO. I spent six days in the ICU with an incredible team of nurses and physicians, followed by another two days in the general hospital which was also nothing short of amazing. What I experienced was a miracle—I passed away, saw the light, and was given the gift of life once more. The timing was perfect and all the people I needed most appeared exactly when I needed them.
My husband, David, was there every step of the way. Reading to me and rubbing my feet even as I was unconscious. I thank the universe everyday for bringing him into my orbit. So many people go into these sort of scenarios alone, I am thankful that I did not have to do that. And, I truly believe that having the dedicated passionate staff/nurses in the ICU and my husband there every step of the way really helped my mindset, especially while I was unconscious for days. The power of positive energy, and healing touch is strong!
A Surreal Journey Home
It feels almost unbelievable that I am already back home to rest and recover. Just a short while ago, the doctors anticipated that I would remain under their care for another month. Now, I find immense joy in being reunited with friends and family, and our beloved dog, Honeybear. There’s something truly special about enjoying the simple pleasures of life again, fresh air and water, being able to walk outside.
The road to recovery is still a lengthy one ahead of me. This week, I began attending several doctor appointments, and physical therapy is set to start next week. I am already able to walk to the end of my driveway and return multiple times a day, and I can move around slowly without the aid of a cane or walker. It is truly remarkable how the body can mend itself when provided with time, space, love and proper nutrients for healing. I believe this experience to be a testament to how well I cared for my body before my near-death experience as well. It had become my goal the last few years to get in to the best shape and health possible before turning 50. I had started regular weight training 5 days per week, daily cardio and of course enjoyed many other outdoor mountain activities like skiing, biking, hiking and climbing.
Please know, David and I have deeply been inspired by these events...more to come on this! We intend to share more on our story to help others.
Please help us to raise funds for some of my medical bills and medicines. I will also be unable to to work for another 8-10 weeks. Any amount you can share is appreciated to help us move through this process with as much ease and grace as possible. And, please share this post with others who may be able to help. From our hearts to yours, Thank You. Grateful to be alive. Love and Light.
